Stroke Survivor Care: Optimizing Home Health Care for a Patient

Seeing a loved one go through a stroke and survive is indeed draining. In 2012, there have been 50, 000 stroke victims in Australia. 65% are disabled which means they need assistance and caregivers. If you have a family member who recently survived a stroke, chances are your doctor suggested you avail home health care for them. The cost of home health care is low compared to Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and is more practical. Home health care agencies are funded by the Australian government to provide home packages for eligible clients. You can check your patient’s eligibility at www.myagedcare.gov.au.

If your patient is eligible for home health care, schedule an appointment with a home health care consultant and discuss these:

Home Health Care Packages

During a discussion with your private home health care consultant, they will offer you several types of home care packages. If your patient is a stroke survivor, they need a package that includes:

Home duties – Meal preparations and cleaning after the patient

Transportation – The agency will provide transportation for the patient to their engagements and appointments with the GP

Domestic Assistance – Showering, bathing, and grooming

General Practitioner (GP) – The home health care consultant is your liaison to your GP or assigned health care providers.

Shopping

Emotional support

One benefit of home health care will also give you respite. You can rest or concentrate again on your career without worrying if your disabled loved one is getting enough care.

Modifying home for accessibility and safety

It’s also important to bring up modifying your home. If you can, obtain a floor plan of your house to check walking paths and tripping hazards. You should also consider getting wheelchair ramps, handrails, and an Anti-Slip treatment for wet tiles and in your bathroom. If you’re planning to do a DIY, you can ask assistance from home health care aids. If you want experts to do it, then you can contact licensed builders in Australia that specialize in installing ramps and safety fixtures.

Improvement Exercises and Activities

Simple Flexing Exercises

17 to 38% of stroke survivors are suffering from a condition called Spasticity, which prevents signals from traveling to the brain. You can prevent Spasticity by giving your patient a series of Passive Exercising. You may discuss this with your home health care consultant if it’s included in the package. If it’s not, you can do it. It’s as simple as these:

Finger Flexing – Straightening fingers into a palm 5-10 times

Arm Stretching – Moving their arms to their full range motion and holding off for 60 seconds

Wrist Exercises – Make them lie on their back, clasp their wrists together and bend sideward. Repeat for 5-10 times.

Cognitive Activities

Stroke survivors usually suffer from Aphasia—a speech comprehension and expression impediment. You can also couple physical exercises with these brain exercises:

Name an Object – You can point to any object in the room and let the patient name it

Smartphone apps for Stroke survivors – Therapeutic apps such as Luminosity, What’s the Difference, and Thinking Time Pro help patients improve their attention and memory

Meditation – For almost able stroke patients, this can be good for them to really get back on track

Taking care of a stroke survivor can be challenging. If you want optimized home health care services, know more by going to https://arcare.com.au or calling 1300 272 273.